II. First Responders’ Workers’ Comp Re-Write Advances
in Assembly
On Thursday in Trenton, the Assembly Appropriations Committee has scheduled S-716/A-1741, companion bills that make it much easier for any public safety worker – volunteer or professional – to receive a workers’ compensation award. The League has joined the Municipal Excess Liability (MEL) fund in opposition to the bill, as currently drafted.
The bill would create the presumption - rebuttable only with “clear and convincing” evidence - that if, in the course of employment, a police officer, firefighter, emergency responder or nurse is exposed to a carcinogen or pathogen, that any subsequent injury, disability, chronic or coronary illness or death is compensable under workers’ comp.
The change, from the current “preponderance of the evidence” standard to a “clear and convincing” rebuttal, will make it nearly impossible to contest such claims. The lower standard will result in more claims. More claims will lead to more awards. And more awards will impose greater costs on property taxpayers.
Please see our June 6, 2018 Urgent Alert for more details on this proposal, which will be positioned for final approval, if released by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Thursday.
Please contact you Representatives in the General Assembly and urge them to oppose the bill, as currently drafted.
Contact: Jon Moran, Senior Legislative Analyst, jmoran@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x121.
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share via Email
